Nov 20, 2001

By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Four months ago, linebacker Brian Zickefoose thought playing in the Army-Navy game might be the defining moment of his four years at West Point.

"After Sept. 11, though, I realized pretty quickly that football is down here," Zickefoose said, holding a hand near his left knee, "and that being in military service is up here," he said, raising the hand above his head.

"When you lose a football game, no one loses a life. It's just football," he said. "What these guys are going to be doing in six months is much more important."

The 102nd Army-Navy game Dec. 1 will take on new significance as a result of the terrorist attacks.

More than usual, fans are aware that the young soldiers on the field and thousands more in the stands are facing an unsure future that could include combat service.

Even the players - for whom the Army-Navy game transcends the entire season - have found themselves looking ahead to life after football.

"It has been difficult this year to maintain focus," Army coach Todd Berry said.

Many players, Berry said, have been anxious to finish with school and football and get into action in Afghanistan or wherever they are needed.

Navy linebacker and team captain Jake Bowen said his teammates are looking forward to the challenge, "maybe even more" than the Army-Navy rivalry.

"As a high school senior, you don't necessarily put it together that when you sign up you might be putting yourself in harm's way," Bowen said. "I think that, if anything, the events of Sept. 11 made it a lot clearer to people that what we are doing is a sacrifice, and that we will be putting ourselves in danger. We aren't just here to get a good education and play football."

Some of those more serious thoughts will evaporate this week and next in the heat of one of football's most celebrated rivalries.

All 67,000 tickets to the game at Veterans Stadium were sold out months ago. Next week's contest is expected to draw top military leaders and politicians.

Players in Philadelphia for a media luncheon Tuesday said this year's game is big, but not necessarily more important to team members than in past years.

"To us it is always huge," said Army tight end Clint Dodson, who is training in field artillery. "I played last year and I really couldn't imagine it being any bigger."

Navy coach Rick Lantz, who promised a game "as good as watching two brothers fight," said the game clearly will mean more to fans this year.

Everywhere the team has traveled, Lantz said, fans have welcomed the Midshipmen like a second home team.

"They clapped for us when we went on the field in Toledo. When we got off the bus in Notre Dame, there was a line of people waiting to clap for us ... not because we are Navy football, but because we are Navy."